Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1) by Neal Shusterman - Restarting May 1st 2023

[Maddie]

Finished! (view spoiler)[Her choice of name was gold <3 I was wondering who she'd pick, and she picked well. That would be a really hard part, choosing a name.

I'm also really pleased that she did go through with the final test, and didn't just defy them and impress them in another way which I expected.

And I'm pleased that Rowan's also still getting rid of the horrible Scythes, and by fire too! I just don't know how he's going to get out of that pickle later, at least he's with Faraday now! (hide spoiler)] That was good!

[Maddie]

I really loved this book, but I do think I read it a bit too fast. The faster I read books, the less I absorb. And because I read this one during the readathon, I was really trying to get through it. So I think with Thunderhead, I've learn to take it a bit slower. I won't force myself to read.
I'm glad I finally read this one after all the hype. This is the quickest I've ever read a book after receiving it. It arrived the day before the readathon, so I was extremely happy with that!
I loved the dual POV, it was totally amazing, and the lack of romance really lent itself to the story. I feel like even the second book there won't be too much of it, what with (view spoiler)[them both being in different locations, (hide spoiler)] but the hints of it will still be there. I can't wait to see what'll come of it.
I loved all of the Scythes in this book. I love the way Curie and Faraday dealt with the gleanings, it really made me appreciate them. And the whole statistics behind the way the gleanings take place really interested me. The way that they took into account the percentage of deaths back in the mortal era and how they came about, and try to stick to that kind of thing. It really interested me. And the journal entries at the start of each chapter, they were really enlightening. I wish I had Thunderhead on hand now, but realistically I won't be reading that until September.

[Ashley W]

Chapters 1-3
(view spoiler)[ I would hate to be a scythe. Not only are they creepy, but people just suck up to them and that must get old. People really aren't being fair to Rowan. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah I know it's unfair!

[Ari]

Part one (view spoiler)[This is a cool and quite unique concept! I like the worldbuilding and the plot is interesting, too. I feel sorry for Rowan, no one seems to care for him :( (hide spoiler)]

[Ari]

✌ Ashley ☠ wrote: "Chapters 1-3
[spoilers removed]"

same!

[Maddie]

It's different to what I thought, but still really good!

[Ashley W]

Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[ That does in a way make sense. Airplane crashes happen and can kill everyone on board. But still, those guys were brutal. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah I know, they're terrible that gang. But I like the statistics behind it.

[Ashley W]

Chapter 8
(view spoiler)[ I couldn't imagine being the one who decided who died and how. That would be the most depressing job. I don't see how they do it so long. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

(view spoiler)[They base it off statistics of the likelihood of them dying in our time. I like the idea. (hide spoiler)]

[Cecilia]

Chapter 1-4
(view spoiler)[ I'm actually really enjoying this story so far. The main characters aren't my favorite but I find the world so interesting! I'm curious to see what a scythe's life is like and how they deal with all the death they cause. (hide spoiler)]

[Cecilia]

✌ Ashley ☠ wrote: "Chapters 1-3
[spoilers removed]"

I feel that!

[Cecilia]

Maddison wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

me too I thought that was interesting but I wonder how exactly they determine factors like age, race, religion, just simple things. we got a little bit of that with the quarterback but not too much

[Maddie]

Yeah I'm not sure either. And they also seemed to link some of the nationalities together.

[Ashley]

Hey guys! Started this one last night

Chap 5
(view spoiler)[ I really like this so far, it wasn't super boring in the beginning and I was into it right away. This is such a strange world, it really makes you think. I never thought of how important it was so people to actually just die naturally before. I like Citra and Rowan too so far (hide spoiler)]

[Ari]

I was wondering the same, @Cecilia. It's an interesting world though there are some things that are not entirely explained. We'll see if they're ever explored.

[Ari]

Part two (view spoiler)[I loved Scythe Faraday, I didn’t expect him to glean himself in order to save his apprentices, wow. Though now Rowan is stuck with Goddard (ugh). Well, at least now Citra and Rowan don’t have to kill each other. I’m not sure how I feel about them. Rowan was really kind to purposefully give the wrong answer in the test for Citra (even though that indirectly lead to Faraday’s death). I found it was cute, and then they kissed, but I don’t think it will lead up to romance. I don’t know. I can’t wait to see what happens next! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

Chap 9
(view spoiler)[ Are the guys from the airplane that bad Scythe's that they keep warning about? Seems like a lot of people to kill at once (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

✌ Ashley ☠ wrote: "Chapter 6
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ That was brutal! I kept waiting for them to say they were joking or it was just a training session or something (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Love reading your thoughts :p

[Lara]

Just starting this one now, it is such an interesting concept, I have high hopes for this book!

[Maddie]

Yeah you should!

[Ashley W]

Chapter 14
(view spoiler)[ That makes absolutely no sense. It seems like that would make it even more unfair because the two competing apprentices would start trying to cheat. Not saying these two would, but that's what I would think. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah I know, it's just so dumb. Don't they want morally proper Scythes?

[Cecilia]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ Character wise, I don't know how I feel about Rowan and Citra. I guess I think they're cool but I don't have a favorite when it comes to who will actually become a scythe. I am interested in their budding romance, however. I love Scythe Faraday so much. I don't know why but he's a Yoda figure in this book and I am into it. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Haha yeah or a Dumbledore.

[Ashley W]

Chapter 19
(view spoiler)[ So he's just dead? Wow. I didn't see that one coming at all. Like no warning. Just jumped in front of train. Geez. And someone needs to do something about that Goddard. He's horrible. I feel sorry for Rowan already. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I know it's terrible!

[Ashley]

Chap 16
(view spoiler)[ I can't believe the one that wins is going to have to kill the other one! They have to find a way around that somehow, I hope. I like them both equally and don't want either one of them to die (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

✌ Ashley ☠ wrote: "Chapter 8
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Me either! It would be so much better if it was just totally random and a computer just told you who it had to be (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

end
(view spoiler)[ That was so good and different! I liked how Faraday appeared again, I loved him so much. I'm glad that Rowan didn't get influenced and turn to the bad side, him and Citra were such good characters through this whole book. Marie was awesome too, I thought she was the perfect person for Citra to apprentice with after Faraday. I loved how Citra pulled that off at the end with giving him immunity, so clever. I can't believe I waited so long to read this. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

✌ Ashley ☠ wrote: "Chapter 19
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I didn't want him to be dead either! He was one of my favorites (hide spoiler)]

[Lara]

Chapter 19: (view spoiler)[ Curie seems nice at this stage, I'm hoping she stays like that! I want to know what Rowan is up to as well, I feel so bad for him! (hide spoiler)]

[Lara]

Chapter 21: (view spoiler)[ Poor Rowan! That is so horrible! I really have no idea how he and/or Citra are going to make it out alive. (hide spoiler)]

[Lara]

Chapter 30: (view spoiler)[ I can't wait to see this concept of the Thunderhead developed further! Also, I hope I'll son see some more of Rowan. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah as soon as I read the word Thunderhead I was excited for book 2 XD I had no idea what Thunderhead was.

[Ashley W]

Chapter 27
(view spoiler)[ Surely someone is going to stop Goddard and his band of lunatics. Even if what he's doing isn't "wrong". I want to know what's up with Esme and why some little girl is so important. And what is the point of the apprentices fighting at the conclave? Seems more like blood lust on the part of the scythes than anything beneficial. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Chapter 28
(view spoiler)[ Wow, I guess she is important. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Chapter 33
(view spoiler)[ So glad Faraday is alive. I didn't think he'd made that much of an impression on me till I realized how much worse Goddard is. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Chapter 36
(view spoiler)[ A fitting ending for Goddard. Now Rowan just has to get away with it. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ There was more action in the last 50 pages than the rest of the book combined. Enjoyed it. Citra was clever and Rowan has become quite the badass. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah I really love being able to actually have read it first before reading your comments that way I can actually think about the book.

[Lara]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ Loved the ending, it was so action-packed and I can't wait for the next book. Citra and Rowan have come so far from the beginning of the book (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah I want Thunderhead too

[Cecilia]

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ okay so I definitely screamed a little when it said that Citra and Rowan would have to kill the other who doesn't become a scythe. Personally, I love Rowan a lot more than Citra. I think Citra is annoying and a lil bratty at times. I'm gonna be upset if it is all a cop out at the end. I hate when books do that, So far, this book is definitely a 5 star (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Well you know it isn't going to happen so why are you worried Cecelia XD There are always loopholes in YA.

[Cecilia]

Up to Part 3 (view spoiler)[ HOLY!!! Okay what Scythe Faraday did was so noble and I teared up a bit, no lie. I had a feeling that one of them was going to to with Goddard and I'm glad it's Rowan. I'm so interested to see what happens! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah that was such a shock right!

[Ari]

Part three (view spoiler)[I love everything Rowan does for Citra! But ugh they’re blaming Citra?? Why did Faraday write that? Maybe he was talking about another apprentice he used to have? Or someone faked his handwriting or maybe forced him to do so. I think this is all a scheme orchestrated by Goddard… (hide spoiler)]